The Eastern Voice correspondent
Patna. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has launched the Mukhyamantri Bihar Heli-Tourism Service Scheme 2026, a six-month pilot program that will begin commercial weekend flights from July 18. Under the scheme, the government will provide a subsidy of up to ₹15,422 per ticket, making travel to Bihar’s cultural and ecological tourist destinations more affordable. The service will be managed by the Directorate of Civil Aviation with security provided by local authorities. Passengers can book flights online through the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) by purchasing a tour package.
The service will offer five tourist seats per flight on four major weekend routes. Tourists can choose a ₹2,100 Patna Joy Ride, which offers a 10-minute aerial view of the city, a ₹4,000 helicopter trip to Rajgir’s Buddhist sites, or a ₹6,000 flight to the historic Mundeshwari Temple in Kaimur. A fixed-wing aircraft service from Patna to the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve will also be available for ₹5,000.
The scheme was launched along with a ₹193.94 crore tourism infrastructure package aimed at improving Bihar’s tourism sector. The plan includes building a meditation center in Bodh Gaya, converting unused inspection bungalows into modern tourist guesthouses through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, and providing capital subsidies of up to ₹2.5 lakh per room to encourage rural homestays.
